Pan‑African Biennale – Open Call: Short Film

The Pan‑African Biennale (PAB) – the first continental platform dedicated to Africa’s built environment, urbanism and creative futures – is issuing an open call for short‑film works that engage critically and creatively with contemporary African conditions. The call welcomes experimental, documentary, narrative and hybrid formats, provided the film is under 50 minutes and addresses at least one of the three thematic strands: Climate Change, Vernacular Intelligence, or African Futures. Applicants may be filmmakers, artists, designers or spatial practitioners residing in Africa or its diaspora. Submissions must include 3‑5 still images, a short synopsis (max 300 words) and a brief director biography (max 150 words), and be delivered via a downloadable link (e.g., Google Drive). The selection panel will evaluate entries on conceptual strength, relevance to the themes, formal innovation and critical engagement with African contexts. Up to ten films will be chosen, with two films screened each evening of the Biennale’s opening week (7–11 September 2026) in Nairobi, Kenya, offering public exposure and continental recognition. No application fee is required. Selected artists will be contacted by 24 August 2026. For queries, contact calls@panafricanbiennale.org.